Fixed parallel-blade broadhead having modified h-shaped outline configuration

ABSTRACT

A broadhead which is light in weight and which has surface area to decrease arrowhead weight, surface area and drag to increase performance of an arrow to which it is attached. The broadhead attaches to the arrow in one of the known ways, glue, screw, friction or interference fit. A broadhead wrench may need to be used to protect the user from sharp edges while handling the broadhead. The blade portion of the broadhead aids in the hemorrhaging of the target by creating a larger conduit for bleeding to occur, thus speeding death of a game animal.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 61/156,695, filed Mar. 2, 2009. The entire subject matter of thispriority document, including the specification and drawings thereof, isincorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to archery arrowheads. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to improved broadhead-typearrowheads having superior flight and performance characteristics.

2. Description of the Related Art

Broadheads are similar to other arrowheads in that they are designed tobe secured to the tip of an archery arrow. When the arrow is shot froman archery bow, the arrowhead is the first part of the arrow/arrowheadcombination that impacts a target, which may be a game animal. It ispreferable that the broadhead strike and kill the target as quickly andhumanely as possible. A problem that often arises with bow huntingconcerns the tracking and locating of a wounded or “hit” animal forharvesting.

Wounded animals may suffer after being hit by an arrow, and can becomedangerous to the hunter and others. Thus, upon contact with a gameanimal, a broadhead should inflict as much damage as possible in orderto promote bleeding and shorten the time between an arrow strike andresultant death of a game animal.

The presently available broadheads have certain disadvantages in thatthe speed, distance, and the accuracy of flight of the arrow shaftthrough the air may be adversely affected by the structuralconfiguration of the broadhead. In addition, there are certain legalrequirements setting forth the conditions under which the use andstructure of the broadhead arrows must comply.

With the availability of new materials, the method for delivering thearrow has improved considerably. Compound bows have the capability tolaunch arrows at considerably higher velocities than previous types ofbows. Unfortunately, these higher velocities introduce significantaerodynamic problems in maintaining accurate arrow flight with abroadhead attached.

The overall cutting width of prior broadhead designs was reduced tomaintain as narrow an aerodynamic profile as possible. This allows thearrow to have an accurate flight, but provides for the chance that atarget would only be wounded and not killed. The blades size andarrangement are vital for accurate flight and for efficient killing.Even a narrow blade width can have difficulty in achieving repeatableaccurate arrow flights, due to pressure exerted by the wind as the arrowflies to its intended target.

In order to provide a large contact area, broadheads have been designedthat expand on impact with a target. These “mechanical broadheads”normally include expandable blades to cause larger damage to the target.These expandable blades offer a combination of both accurate arrowflight and effective harvesting, in a single arrowhead. However,mechanical broadheads have several disadvantages such as, reducedpenetration of the broadhead, structural weakness of the elements, andpossible inoperability at the critical moment of contact with the gameanimal.

Blade assemblies have the general shape of a substantially triangular ordelta wing configuration, and as such, the blades can act generally likea wing and provide lift for the arrow and cause the arrow to fly offcourse. Thus, much like the control surfaces of an aircraft wing, theangled portion length to overall blade assembly length can aid ordetract in steering the arrow to the target.

Some examples of broadheads are disclosed in the U.S. Pat. Nos.6,863,630 to Watkins, et al.; 6,966,856 to Hajek; 7,037,222 to Mizek etal.; 7,037,223 to Kuhn; 7,160,217 to Sohm; and 7,255,659 to Jones.

What is needed is a broadhead designed to make an enlarged hole in atarget as compared with the previously known broadheads, in order toshorten the time between impact of the arrow with the target and thesubsequent immobility of the target.

Accordingly, it is one of the objects of the present invention toprovide a broadhead having a reduced aerodynamic drag, therebydecreasing the air turbulence and wind noise generated during flight,and which is configured to kill a game animal as humanely as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a broadhead having a reducedaerodynamic drag, thereby decreasing the air turbulence and wind noisegenerated during flight. The present invention is accomplished byshaping the broadhead, and in particular the blade, such that theleading surfaces are smoothly shaped. The trailing surfaces may also beshaped to minimize the effects of airflow that tend to increase the draggenerated. The geometric configurations may also be shaped to impartrotation of the arrow during flight to enhance the flight dynamics.

It is also advantageous to provide a broadhead that is substantiallysilent in flight to prevent the target from having the opportunity to“duck” or otherwise move before the arrow arrives.

Accordingly, a feature and advantage of the present invention is itsability to overcome the deficiencies in prior art broadhead arrowheadsby providing an improved arrow broadhead in accordance with thedisclosure herein.

Another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability toprovide an improved arrow broadhead having improved cuttingcharacteristics.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the illustrative embodiments of the invention, are intendedfor purposes of illustration only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a broadhead arrowhead inaccordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the broadhead arrowhead of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top plan view of the broadhead arrowhead of FIGS.1-2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side plan view of the broadhead arrowhead inaccordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a rear end view of the of the broadhead arrowhead ofFIGS. 1-4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described withreference to the attached drawings. A number of working examples of thepresent invention will be described herein, based on selectedillustrative embodiments of the present invention shown in theaccompanying drawings.

As used throughout this specification and in the claims, the termsforward and rearward relate to a front and a rear of arrowhead, relativeto a direction of flight of an arrow shaft to which the arrowhead isattached, in a conventional manner.

A broadhead arrowhead in accordance with a selected illustrativeembodiment of the invention is shown generally at 1 in FIG. 1. The fixedblade broadhead arrowhead 1 in accordance with the present inventionincludes essentially three parts, a blade portion 10, a fixation portion20 and an intermediate support portion 30. In the depicted embodiment,the three portions, i.e., the blade portion 10, the fixation portion 20and the intermediate support portion 30. the are combined to form anintegral, monolithic structure.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the broadhead 1 according to the presentinvention includes the fixation portion 20 including suitablecylindrical structure at the rear or base of the arrowhead 1, formounting to the forward portion of an arrow shaft (not shown). Thefixation portion 20 is sized and proportioned to accept any of the knownmethods of attaching an arrowhead to an arrow shaft as is well known inthe art.

For purposes of an example, it is an accepted method in the art toemploy an adhesive to secure or affix the broadhead 1 to an arrow shaft(not shown). The fixation portion is sized either to fit over the end ofthe shaft (not shown) and attach thereto with adhesive, or to beinserted inside of a hollow shaft and attach thereto with adhesive.

As an example of an alternative fixation portion 20 and method, FIG. 4illustrates a male threaded portion 22 which is conFigured to bethreadably and rotatably attached to a corresponding female threadedportion in a threaded bore on the front of the arrow shaft (not shown).The broadhead 1 in accordance with the invention may be secured by thefixation portion 20 to the arrow shaft (not shown) by any of thewell-known methods as is known in the art.

While handling the broadhead, it may be desirable to use a broadheadwrench (not shown) for the protection of the user's fingers whileassembling, removing or installing broadheads on the shaft. The wrench(not shown) is adapted to hold blades in position until the securing orfixing operation is completed. The wrench (not shown) is also used totighten the broadhead on the arrow shaft when it is screwed onto thearrow shaft.

The support portion 30 attaches to, and is integrally formed with thefixation portion 20, and supports the blade portion 10 thereon in fixedposition and in proper alignment. The support portion 30 is generallycylindrical in shape and slightly larger in diameter than the fixationportion 20. The support portion 30 is open at the forward end toaccommodate the blade portion 10. As can best be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5,the support portion 30 is ferrule-like and coaxial with the fixationportion 20 and blade portion 10. As best seen in FIG. 4, the supportportion 30 includes a flat, enlarged circular platform 31 that supportsthe blade portion 10 on the fixation portion 20.

It has been observed that in use, the modified H-shaped arrangement (seeFIGS. 2 an 5) of blades used in the broadhead 1 according to thedepicted embodiment aids in the rapid hemorrhaging of a target animalwhen the animal is hit, by creating a significantly larger conduit oraperture for bleeding to occur than is made by previously knownbroadheads, thus shortening the time between an arrow strike andresultant death. It is applicant's understanding and belief that thehole made by the broadhead according to the invention is approximatelytwice as large as a hole made by a previously known broadhead having anX-shaped outline as viewed from the front of the arrowhead.

The support portion 30 and the fixation portion 20 can be made fromvarious materials of sufficient strength, to provide enthusiasts andhunters with the specific weight grain (mass) for the desiredapplication depending on the type of target and distance to the target.Acceptable materials could include titanium and other high strengthmetals, plastic, and ceramics. The broadhead 1 could be constructedentirely from one type of material or these materials may be selectedfor each portion 10, 20 and 30 to meet the need of the specific weightgrain requirement of the broadhead.

The blade portion 10 is an important feature of the invention, since theblades can affect the flight of the arrow and can affect the speed andeffectiveness of the hemorrhaging of the target.

As can best be seen in FIG. 2, from the front view of the broadhead 1,the blade portion 10 forms a double cruciform shape or modified H-shape,where the crossbar of the H extends out beyond the side portions thereofon both side of the structure. The blade portion 10 for the broadhead 1,includes a relatively large main blade 8 having a pointed front tip 15and including two opposed cutting edges 11, 12. Optionally, but notnecessarily, the main blade 8 may include an integrally formed centralskirt portion 17 extending outwardly thereon to join the platform 31, asshown.

The blade portion 10 also includes two smaller secondary, or crossblades 13 and 14 permanently connected to the main blade 8 substantiallyat right angles thereto, to make up a single integrated blade-unit,wherein the two cross blades extends toward the tip 15 of the main blade8. As shown in FIG. 2, the cross blades 13, 14 are substantiallyparallel to one another.

Each of the blades 8, 13, and 14 is vented as shown at 16 on the mainblade 8, to aid in hemorrhaging and to lighten the weight of the bladeportion 10. The vents 16 can be provided in any number of known shapes(circular, triangular, etc.) as long as the strength of the blades isnot adversely affected by the loss of material. The vents 16 alsoprovide for a lighter arrowhead, depending on the needs of the hunterand weather (wind) conditions.

Rear portions of the blades 8, 13 and 14 may be tapered towards thesupport portion 30, as shown, to minimize air disturbance of the arrowin flight, but if so desired, the blades 8, 13 and 14 could havestraight rear portions (not shown) coincident with the base portion 31of the support portion 30. However, the illustrative embodiment includesthe rear portions of the blades 8, 13 and 14 tapering towards theplatform 31 from the maximum diameters thereof.

The opposed cutting edges 11, 12 of the main blade 8 and of the crossblades 13, 14 provide the main cutting or penetration portion of thearrow having a leading edge including a cutting edge starting at tip 15.The cross blades 13, 14 are substantially shorter in length than themain blade 8 as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, thus also making the crossblades 13, 14 shorter in the width of the broadhead 1.

The blade portion 10 may be constructed of titanium or any othermaterial that would retain a sharp edge thereon.

However, the present invention is not limited to metallic fabricatedblades but includes blades fabricated using any of a variety of knowntechnologies which permit the shaping or machining of the various edgesto provide an edge treatment such as, but not limited to, machining,investment casting or fine blanking. Thus, blades fabricated by any ofthese or other known technologies are considered to be within the scopeof the present invention.

A broadhead in accordance with one illustrative embodiment of theinvention may be integrally formed from titanium metal; however, it iscontemplated in an alternate embodiment that other suitable metals couldbe utilized, and/or that select portions of the broadhead could each beformed from different metals, wherein such metals could include, but arenot limited to, steel, aluminum, brass, carbon-graphite, boron, or othersuitable metals or metal alloys and ceramic and/or ceramic/metal alloysas discussed above.

The blades 8, 13, 14 of the present invention are made from a materialwhich may be selected from a group including stainless steel, carbonsteel, ceramics, titanium or other suitable materials, includingcombinations of the named materials. While these named materials containdesirable properties such as sufficient hardness to provide a rigidblade for the present invention, other metals or materials may be usedwhich would not depart in scope from the present invention.

While in the foregoing specification this invention has been describedin relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many detailshave been set forth for purpose of illustration, it will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to additionalembodiments and that certain details described herein can be variedconsiderably without departing from the basic principles of theinvention.

1. An arrowhead for mounting to the forward portion of an arrow shaft,said arrowhead comprising: a blade portion comprising a plurality ofcutting blades, each cutting blade formed to have light weight structureand low drag; each of the plurality of cutting blades having a leadingedge including a cutting edge and a point; a support portion coaxialwith the blade portion; and a fixation portion attached to said supportportion and being coaxial therewith; the fixation portion attaching thearrowhead to an arrow shaft.
 2. An arrowhead according to claim 1,wherein the blade portion has a double cruciform shape.
 3. An arrowheadaccording to claim 1, wherein the blade portion comprises four bladesthat form a double cruciform shape.
 4. An arrowhead according to claim1, wherein the fixation portion comprises a suitable structure formounting to the forward portion of said arrow shaft at the rear of thesupport portion.
 5. An arrowhead according to claim 4, wherein thefixation portion is adapted to mate with matching portions on said arrowshaft.
 6. An arrowhead according to claim 1, wherein the support portionincludes a flat, circular bottom member that supports the blade portionon the fixation portion, and aids in the hemorrhaging of a game animalby creating a larger conduit for bleeding to occur, thus speeding deathof the game animal.
 7. An arrowhead according to claim 1, wherein thesupport portion, fixation portion, and blade portion form an integral,monolithic unit.
 8. An arrowhead according to claim 1, wherein the bladeportion further comprises at least two of the plurality of blades andforms a penetrating point at the front of the plurality of cuttingblades.
 9. An arrowhead according to claim 1, wherein the blade portioncomprises a pair of main blades and a pair of cross blades, the crossblades being shorter in length than the main blades.
 10. An arrowheadconfigured for mounting on an arrow shaft, said arrowhead comprising: ablade portion comprising a plurality of cutting blades including a pairof main blades and a pair of cross blades, the cross blades beingshorter in length than the main blades; each cutting blade formed tohave a light weight structure and a low drag; each of the plurality ofblades having a leading edge including a cutting edge and a point; afixation portion; a support portion being coaxial with said fixationportion and the blade portion, the support portion comprising a flat,circular bottom member that supports the blade portion on the fixationportion, and aids in the hemorrhaging of a target game animal bycreating a larger conduit for bleeding to occur, thus speeding death ofthe game animal; and wherein the fixation portion is configured forattaching the arrowhead to an arrow shaft, and for coaxially securingthe arrowhead to the arrow shaft.
 11. An arrowhead according to claim10, wherein the support portion has a substantially cylindrical shape;and a diameter of the support portion is greater than a diameter of thefixation portion.
 12. An arrowhead according to claim 11, wherein thesupport portion has a ferrule-like shape.
 13. An arrowhead according toclaim 10, wherein the blade portion comprises four blades that form adouble cruciform shape.
 14. An arrowhead according to claim 10, whereinthe support portion, fixation portion, and blade portion form anintegral, monolithic unit.
 15. An arrowhead according to claim 10,wherein the fixation portion is sized and proportioned to accept anarrow shaft.